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Klein's Black Belt Academy, All Rights Reserved.
In 1968, Korean General Hong Hi Choi (the man responsible for originally
standardizing Taekwondo in 1955) met with then Master Haeng Ung Lee (now
Eternal Grand Master), who at the time was teaching Taekwondo-Japanese mixed
martial arts to his organization of followers. General Choi quickly taught Eternal
Grand Master Lee the first 16 Cheon-jee forms of Taekwondo in only 4 days and
three nights (this system of forms was the first set of forms developed under the
new Taekwondo of Korea).
From this first meeting almost half a century ago, the stage was set for the founding
of The American Taekwondo Association (ATA) in 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska by
Eternal Grand Master Lee.
Eternal Grand Master Lee began his martial arts training in 1954 as a teenager. He
taught martial arts to Republic of Korea military intelligence personnel from 1956 to
1959, opening his first commercial school in Osan, Korea after leaving the military.
Eternal Grand Master then opened several "branches" to his commercial school,
including one at a U.S. Air Force base. This is where Master Richard Reed began
training with Eternal Grand Master, and the two forged a friendship that would
ultimately result in the ATA.
When Reed returned to the United States in 1962, Eternal Grand Master joined him on
a "visitor" visa, and began teaching in Omaha. Although he had to return to Korea in
December, 1963 while awaiting a "resident" status visa, he returned to the U.S. in
1965 and began working toward a national Taekwondo organization that would be
based on good martial arts and sound business practices. As it grew from a regional
organization to one of national -- and ultimately international -- scope, the ATA began
to establish standards that would ensure consistent instruction.
The ATA held "closed" tournaments -- you had to be a member to compete.
Instructors had to undergo a rigorous trainee period to become a certified instructor,
and the only way to receive certification was to come to Little Rock for a week in
August and participate in a Trainee Instructor Camp, complete with physical and
written exams.
Every student uniform was white (no black, no blue, no stars & stripes), and all
lettering, piping and patches (initially just a school patch and the ATA patch) on
uniforms were to be consistent across the organization. The ATA also shared
marketing acumen with its instructors, helping to build a stronger organization by
presenting a consistent, professional program and message to the public.
From the beginning, Eternal Grand Master Lee was determined to establish the most
professional martial arts organization possible. In 1973, he introduced the first
instructor manual, which provided information and procedures to standardize the
operation of all ATA schools. In 1976, he hosted the first Grand National tournament,
which was the predecessor for the Songahm Taekwondo World Championships now
held annually. A year later, he re-located the ATA headquarters from Omaha,
Nebraska to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he soon had 200 black belts earning
instructor certification each year.
In 1980, the ATA became the first martial arts organization to introduce a centralized
computer record keeping system. This innovation enabled the ATA to maintain rank
histories and other important information about the thousands of ATA members. The
same year, the ATA began publishing a tabloid entitled "ATA News" which has
evolved into the international magazine The Way of Taekwondo, now published
quarterly to keep Songahm Taekwondo students informed about upcoming events,
appraised of new programs, and knowledgeable about the physical and mental
aspects of Songahm Taekwondo.
The history of the ATA was set on a new and unique course in 1983 when, at a
Certified Instructor Camp in Little Rock, Eternal Grand Master introduced the
Songahm system of Taekwondo. The Songahm system represented the culmination
of years of study by Eternal Grand Master Lee. The ATA had used the Chang Hun
Taekwondo forms since 1969 -- and the "Pinan" forms prior to that -- but he had
noticed something missing in the forms.
With the assistance of senior instructors including Robert Allemier, Bill Clark, In Ho
Lee and Jee Ho Lee, Eternal Grand Master developed a unified teaching system in
which, for the first time, White Belts learned kicks in their Taekwondo forms and
one-step sparring was closely integrated with the forms to aid in student development
by establishing a more logical system for beginners. But even more than that the
entire system of Songahm forms worked together with balance and harmony,
reflecting the essence of the art.
In 1984, the Songahm Taekwondo Federation (STF) was founded by Eternal Grand
Master H.U. Lee and Master Cezar Ozuna to help spread Songahm Taekwondo
outside of the United States. In the fall of 1990, the World Traditional Taekwondo
Union (WTTU) was formed. While the ATA encompasses member schools in the
United States and Canada, the STF includes member schools in South America and
the WTTU covers the remaining portion of the world.
With the passing of Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee in October 2000, our current
leadership has taken up the torch of his inspirational guidance and leadership and
ensured the values the ATA were founded upon remain our focus for today and into
the future.
Grand Master Soon Ho Lee, after many trials and tests for the Grand Master title,
was elevated to be our leader in Taekwondo and guides and focuses the Songahm
Taekwondo style. Mrs. Sun C. Lee, wife of the late Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee
and the ATA's Chairman of the Board, continues the legacy of her husband by
helping the youth of Songahm Taekwondo through her philanthropic efforts and
devotion. Our leadership ensures that the ATA will continue to be one of the most
innovative, effective, and widespread organizations in martial arts worldwide.
From its humble beginnings, today the ATA and its affiliated organizations is
beginning to register over 300,000 members worldwide, including 53,000 black belts
and 3,000 certified instructors.
In many ways, this is still just the beginning. We know the ATA has many wonderful
surprises in store for Taekwondo in the United States and across the world. We hope
you will journey with us as the ATA, and Songahm Taekwondo, continues to evolve
and improve to help our students and masters do the same.
standardizing Taekwondo in 1955) met with then Master Haeng Ung Lee (now
Eternal Grand Master), who at the time was teaching Taekwondo-Japanese mixed
martial arts to his organization of followers. General Choi quickly taught Eternal
Grand Master Lee the first 16 Cheon-jee forms of Taekwondo in only 4 days and
three nights (this system of forms was the first set of forms developed under the
new Taekwondo of Korea).
From this first meeting almost half a century ago, the stage was set for the founding
of The American Taekwondo Association (ATA) in 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska by
Eternal Grand Master Lee.
Eternal Grand Master Lee began his martial arts training in 1954 as a teenager. He
taught martial arts to Republic of Korea military intelligence personnel from 1956 to
1959, opening his first commercial school in Osan, Korea after leaving the military.
Eternal Grand Master then opened several "branches" to his commercial school,
including one at a U.S. Air Force base. This is where Master Richard Reed began
training with Eternal Grand Master, and the two forged a friendship that would
ultimately result in the ATA.
When Reed returned to the United States in 1962, Eternal Grand Master joined him on
a "visitor" visa, and began teaching in Omaha. Although he had to return to Korea in
December, 1963 while awaiting a "resident" status visa, he returned to the U.S. in
1965 and began working toward a national Taekwondo organization that would be
based on good martial arts and sound business practices. As it grew from a regional
organization to one of national -- and ultimately international -- scope, the ATA began
to establish standards that would ensure consistent instruction.
The ATA held "closed" tournaments -- you had to be a member to compete.
Instructors had to undergo a rigorous trainee period to become a certified instructor,
and the only way to receive certification was to come to Little Rock for a week in
August and participate in a Trainee Instructor Camp, complete with physical and
written exams.
Every student uniform was white (no black, no blue, no stars & stripes), and all
lettering, piping and patches (initially just a school patch and the ATA patch) on
uniforms were to be consistent across the organization. The ATA also shared
marketing acumen with its instructors, helping to build a stronger organization by
presenting a consistent, professional program and message to the public.
From the beginning, Eternal Grand Master Lee was determined to establish the most
professional martial arts organization possible. In 1973, he introduced the first
instructor manual, which provided information and procedures to standardize the
operation of all ATA schools. In 1976, he hosted the first Grand National tournament,
which was the predecessor for the Songahm Taekwondo World Championships now
held annually. A year later, he re-located the ATA headquarters from Omaha,
Nebraska to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he soon had 200 black belts earning
instructor certification each year.
In 1980, the ATA became the first martial arts organization to introduce a centralized
computer record keeping system. This innovation enabled the ATA to maintain rank
histories and other important information about the thousands of ATA members. The
same year, the ATA began publishing a tabloid entitled "ATA News" which has
evolved into the international magazine The Way of Taekwondo, now published
quarterly to keep Songahm Taekwondo students informed about upcoming events,
appraised of new programs, and knowledgeable about the physical and mental
aspects of Songahm Taekwondo.
The history of the ATA was set on a new and unique course in 1983 when, at a
Certified Instructor Camp in Little Rock, Eternal Grand Master introduced the
Songahm system of Taekwondo. The Songahm system represented the culmination
of years of study by Eternal Grand Master Lee. The ATA had used the Chang Hun
Taekwondo forms since 1969 -- and the "Pinan" forms prior to that -- but he had
noticed something missing in the forms.
With the assistance of senior instructors including Robert Allemier, Bill Clark, In Ho
Lee and Jee Ho Lee, Eternal Grand Master developed a unified teaching system in
which, for the first time, White Belts learned kicks in their Taekwondo forms and
one-step sparring was closely integrated with the forms to aid in student development
by establishing a more logical system for beginners. But even more than that the
entire system of Songahm forms worked together with balance and harmony,
reflecting the essence of the art.
In 1984, the Songahm Taekwondo Federation (STF) was founded by Eternal Grand
Master H.U. Lee and Master Cezar Ozuna to help spread Songahm Taekwondo
outside of the United States. In the fall of 1990, the World Traditional Taekwondo
Union (WTTU) was formed. While the ATA encompasses member schools in the
United States and Canada, the STF includes member schools in South America and
the WTTU covers the remaining portion of the world.
With the passing of Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee in October 2000, our current
leadership has taken up the torch of his inspirational guidance and leadership and
ensured the values the ATA were founded upon remain our focus for today and into
the future.
Grand Master Soon Ho Lee, after many trials and tests for the Grand Master title,
was elevated to be our leader in Taekwondo and guides and focuses the Songahm
Taekwondo style. Mrs. Sun C. Lee, wife of the late Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee
and the ATA's Chairman of the Board, continues the legacy of her husband by
helping the youth of Songahm Taekwondo through her philanthropic efforts and
devotion. Our leadership ensures that the ATA will continue to be one of the most
innovative, effective, and widespread organizations in martial arts worldwide.
From its humble beginnings, today the ATA and its affiliated organizations is
beginning to register over 300,000 members worldwide, including 53,000 black belts
and 3,000 certified instructors.
In many ways, this is still just the beginning. We know the ATA has many wonderful
surprises in store for Taekwondo in the United States and across the world. We hope
you will journey with us as the ATA, and Songahm Taekwondo, continues to evolve
and improve to help our students and masters do the same.
ATA History
| Eternal Grand Master Haeng Ung Lee 1936-2000 |
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1936 Born in Manchuria, China 1953 Began martial arts 1954 Received 1st Degree 1955 Began teaching Taekwondo 1956 Trained Korean military 1959 Opened Taekwondo school in Korea 1961 Met Master Richard Reed 1962 Arrived in U.S. and started teaching in Omaha, NE 1969 Founded ATA 1970 Received 7th Degree 1973 Became U.S. citizen 1975 Married Mrs. Sun C. Lee 1977 Relocated ATA Headquarters to Little Rock, AR 1978 Received 8th Degree 1978 Began hosting Grand Nationals Tournament 1980 Computerized ATA 1983 Created Songahm style 1983 Started Taekwondo World magazine 1983 Founded Songahm Taekwondo Federation (STF) 1990 Hosted first World Championships 1990 Inaugurated to 9th Degree and received title of Grand Master 1990 Founded World Traditional Taekwondo Union (WTTU) 1991 Established Master H.U. Lee Foundation 1992 ATA Day: March 22, 1992 Congressional Record 1992 Introduced The Way of Traditional Taekwondo book series 1993 Arkansas Business of the Year award 1994 Presented with ATA patch taken into space by space shuttle 1997 Created The Way of Traditional Taekwondo video series 1998 Established Black Belt Academy franchise program, created Songahm Systems International 2000 Grand Opening of new Songahm Headquarters 2000 Passed away in Little Rock, AR; posthumously awarded title of Eternal Grand Master |
Mission Statement
Instructor/Owner
Location
ATA Organization
ATA History
Instructor/Owner
Location
ATA Organization
ATA History
| e-mail Mr. Klein • http://www.blackbeltacademyinfo.com/ A member of the American Taekwondo Association |
